April 3, 2020
Friday in the 5th Week in Lent
Dear Members of St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church,
I am writing to provide an update on our church’s response to the COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus) Pandemic. In consultation with our Bishop and the Vestry, all in-person worship is suspended at St. Matthew’s until further notice. This includes our Holy Week and Easter services. I previously hoped to invite small groups to come on Easer morning to receive communion, but the latest advice from public health officials makes that unwise. Please heed the Shelter-at-Home orders from our Mayor and Governor and please do not leave the house for any non-essential tasks, including going to church.
This is an important time to remember that the church is not the building but the people. We are the Body of Christ and God lives in us through the Holy Spirit. So we will continue to praise and worship God through virtual assemblies from our homes. All of our services for Holy Week and beyond will be posted in writing on our website (www.StMattSav.org) and all services will be available for viewing on Facebook.com/StMattSav. If you have trouble accessing these, or have any other prayer concerns, don’t hesitate to call or text me personally.
Finally, we know that this is a difficult time both spiritually and financially for many of our members. But the church still depends on your generous giving to sustain our ministry. I encourage you to continue tithing as you are able by either mailing a check to the church or donating securely online at https://onrealm.org/StMattSav/-/give/now. You all remain in my prayers. God bless you.
In Christ,
Fr. Guillermo A. Arboleda
VI Rector of St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, Savannah, GA